By Deborah Nnamdi
The killing of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a presenter with Arise Television, has reignited public anger over rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Maduagwu was reportedly attacked during a robbery at her Katampe residence in the early hours of September 29. Her death has triggered fresh call for urgent government action, with residents and civil society groups warning that the FCT—once seen as the country’s safest city—is now increasingly vulnerable to violent crime.
In a statement on Monday, the Abuja Youths Forum described the incident as a “national tragedy,” accusing leaders of neglecting public safety. The group argued that the killing showed insecurity had spread from remote areas into communities previously considered secure.
“If criminals can strike in Katampe, no community in the FCT can claim to be safe,” said the forum’s president, Comrade Ayuba Danladi. He urged President Bola Tinubu to press the FCT Administration to deliver results on security and ensure those responsible for Maduagwu’s death are swiftly apprehended.
The group also cautioned that ongoing infrastructure projects in the capital would mean little if residents continued to live in fear. “Roads and bridges cannot substitute for lives lost to unchecked crime,” the statement read.
Condolence messages have poured in from colleagues, friends, and civil society organisations, who described Maduagwu as a talented journalist whose promising career was cut short in tragic circumstances. The forum extended sympathy to her family and the Arise News team, while calling on security agencies to step up patrols and strengthen intelligence gathering across the city.
In recent months, residents of Abuja have expressed growing concern over armed robbery, abductions, and other violent crimes. The Abuja Youths Forum stressed that restoring confidence in the city’s safety must now be treated as a matter of urgent national priority.
